It was scarcely believable midway through the first half that this would be anything other than a resounding Belper victory but the hosts dug in to climb off the bottom of the table.

The Nailers started positively, with Evie Jowett forcing a corner in the second minute before Newark's first chance was half-volleyed over the bar from the edge of the box.

Belper took the lead after 14 minutes with a disputed free kick. Mia Carnelley took responsibility and fired in an unbelievable effort from 30 yards.

The lead was doubled just three minutes later. Carnelley turned provider with a great ball to Jowett who, under pressure from a Newark defender, found a cool finish in to the corner.

Carnelley tried her luck from even further out in the 19th minute but this time the goalkeeper was able to gather the ball.

The hosts had a mountain to claim when Belper made it three after 20 minutes. Hannah James collected the ball on the edge of the box before turning and unleashing an unstoppable effort. The kind of goal that has already become the trademark of Belper's new signing and captain this season.

Lucy Wright had an effort from range at the other end which Maggie Buxton was able to gather but the comeback began on 32 minutes. Connie Forman, a thorn in Belper's side all afternoon, gathered the ball and provided a calm finish.

In the 34th minute, Newark were within one goal of Belper. This time it was Kirsty Naismith with a close range finish with Belper's defence unable to clear.

The Nailers had a chance to restore the three goal lead in the 48th minute when Jowett fed Hannah James with a great ball after an equally good run, but the skipper fired her effort just over the bar.

Wright's free kick went over Buxton's bar at the other end before Belper were carved open on 62 minutes. Newark created a two v one against the Belper defence and Naismith had a golden chance but somehow put it wide.

A key moment came in the 73rd minute. Alice Faulding's cross fell in to the path of Jowett and it looked for all the world as if Belper would go 4-2 ahead. However, Olivia Jones in the Newark goal had other ideas and pulled off a world class save from point blank range.

The home side fed off the positivity provided by this save and were level with a quarter of an hour remaining. Forman scored her second of the match with a nice volley from just outside the box.

Forman completed her hat trick and the scoring for the afternoon with eight minutes left on the clock. She finished from six yards after a cross from the left.

The Belper players, management and fans struggled to comprehend the position in which they found themselves after such an incredible start but credit goes to Newark who regrouped and threw everything at Belper to secure a third successive victory over the Nailers.

Newark Town Ladies: Jones, Johnson, Russel, Chamberlain, Wieglos, Green, Wright, Edwards, Philips, Waddel, Hogg.
Subs: Forman, Naismith, Marshall, Rodgers, Owen-Jones.

Belper Town Ladies: Buxton, Claxton, Allison, A. James, Wilkins, Bestwick (Wakefield 59), Haslam (H. James 84), H. James (C) (Sementhysh-Wright 74), Carnelley (Bestwick 77), Faulding, Jowett (Froggatt 88).
Unused subs: Pickard, Varnam.

Referee: Evelyn Jackson